Jaulian Monastery, Taxila: Buddhist Ruins and Visitor Guide

Jaulian Monastery stands on a hill overlooking the Taxila landscape. Its surviving stupas, sculptural decoration and monastic rooms offer a fascinating glimpse into the Buddhist heritage of ancient Gandhara.

During our visit, I was particularly struck by the setting and the detail preserved on the smaller stupas. Exploring the monastery felt very different from walking through Sirkap’s ancient streets and religious monuments.

Jaulian forms part of the wider Taxila UNESCO World Heritage property, which brings together ancient settlements and Buddhist religious complexes.

Jaulian monastery (2^nd Century – 450 AD) like many other Buddhist retreats in the area is perched on top of a small hill, a short distance from Taxila.

I guess Buddhist monks needed some peace of mind to meditate; Jaulian monastery was the perfect spot to do so. Water streams ran on both sides of the hill with a birds-eye-view of the sprawling land below.

Another rewarding site is Mohra Moradu’s stupa and monastery, where visitors can compare the surviving religious architecture and sculptural decoration with Jaulian.

Jaulian monastery site was built during the syncretic Kushan rulers’ time, hence the representation of Indians, Europeans and Nepali monks in their symbols

I have found Jaulian monastery to be the most revealing and better preserved amongst the various sites peppered around these mountain ranges like Mohra Moradu, Pipplan, Srikap, Badalpur, SirSukh etc.

The most interesting statue was that of Buddha’s image in the form of three ethnicities that ruled the region over the years. 

 

One Qigong master once remarked about this Jaulian monastery site, “I still feel the presence of spirit of monks from 2000 years back”

Lots of Buddhists still perform their religious rituals at this site — it is still sacred ground to them.

Then this is the only site where I saw the image of the fasting Buddha carved on the base of sacred tower (reliquary) that is Omni present on every site.

I saw an inscription dating back 2^nd century AD, in Khroshti text. It seemed gibberish to me. I wish someone translates it to me.

 

The spiritually inclined would place their index finger inside an opening on the torso of Buddha’s statue, to have their prayers answered by the divine himself.

What I found profoundly fascinating was the evidence that this monastery was burnt to the ground by White Huns  — looking at the charred window frames.

The current level of research shows that most of the Buddhist towns and monastery complexes around Taxila were abandoned after the White Huns invasion around the same time.

A well preserved chamber had the perfect image of Buddha in meditation (hands overlapping) with the preaching Buddha (one hand across the chest) overlooking him.

Lo and Behold! The double storey monastery had central courtyard.

The statue of Buddha teaching (one hand clasping the other) that I saw at Jaulian was nowhere to be seen at Takht Bahi.

The votive stupas  surrounding the main Stupa were elaborately carved in Greek-European style —all telling a story. The various levels of these stupas talk of burden of man, the distraction of women, the significance of snake & elephant characteristics and the seven heavens.

I loved Jaulian monastery site, which was probably the best preserved; good job KPK archaeology!

Continue exploring Taxila’s Buddhist heritage

To explore another major religious complex, read our account of Dharmarajika Stupa in Taxila.

For a separate heritage excursion near Khanpur, visit Bhamala Stupa and its Buddhist remains.

Jaulian is both a protected archaeological site and a place of religious significance. Stay on permitted paths, avoid touching fragile sculptures, and do not climb on stupas or ancient walls.